The idea behind additional images is to define groups of 3 images (thumbnail, main and zoom) for your items. This way, when the user clicks on the thumbnail image, they see the associated main image, and when they hover over the mail image they see the zoom.

The zoom window will allow the visitor to zoom in on parts of the image, but does not show the entire zoom image (which will be between 600 and 1200 pixels).

You can add up to 10 groups of additional images (30 images total) for each item.

The DataPlug allows you to do this quickly and easily.

Method 1 : From the DataPlug

STEP 1:

To add additional images to an item with the DataPlug, you must first import your items into the DataPlug database. If you have already done so, proceed to step 2.

For more information about importing items, consult the following help topic: DataPlug - Items

If the items are already present in your site, you can simply import an Excel file containing only the item codes. You can even export these codes in the Marketing > Data Export menu of your back office.

STEP 2:

Click on the magnifying glass in the Item zone of the DataPlug to preview your items.

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Right click on the item you want to add images to and select: Add images...

Image Selection

Click on the [Select up to 10 files] button and select the images you want to add to the item.

You can select images that have not been resized or worked on with image editing software.

Categorizing Images
You can organize your images into categories by checking the "Assign category" box.

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By checking "Use Item Category", the DataPlug will propose a list of category names the item belongs to. Using this method to organize your images is very useful and helps you better organize linked data.

This way, the category tree structure for your images will be the same as for your items (see image below).

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By clicking on "Use directory name beginning after the following reference path", the DataPlug organizes the images into categories whose names will depend on the tree structure of the file on your computer.

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Click on [Next].
This way, the images will be organized in the Bib\Organic categories.

You can now configure the import settings for your 3 images - Thumbnail, Main and Zoom.

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The default configuration is defined in the [Tools \ Settings] menu.

Resizing Options

Maintain aspect ratio: Will resize the image without distorting or stretching it out of proportion.

Define fixed size (recommended): Places the image in a square. Empty space will be filled by a color of your choice. Attention: Transparent color cannot be applied to .jpg images and will be replaced by black.

Use original (no changes): Original image format.

Do not generate image: This format will not be imported.

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The DataPlug will create the additional images, adding a suffix to the image name. By default, the suffix field is configured to add x800 after the zoom image name, x300 after the main image name and x100 after the thumbnail image name.
For example, a thumbnail image named "yourimage.jpg" will be renamed as "yourimagex100.jpg".

Dimensions
We recommend the following dimensions:

Thumbnail: 80 to 100px

Main: 300 to 400px

Zoom: 600 to 1200px

Import

The DataPlug can shrink your images, but can also enlarge an image to create the zoom without damaging it.

The images will be added to the image list in the DataPlug database and will be uploaded to the site at the same time as the items.

Preview and Modifications

You can change certain settings, such as changing the size, rotating the image, flipping the axis, etc. To do so, view the items in the DataPlug (magnifying glass in the Items section), select an item and then click on the Additional Images tab. Right click on the images to see the different configuration options.

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It is also possible to define one of these images as the default main and thumbnail images for your item. If you want to use this feature, then it is not necessary to import the thumbnail and main images for your item beforehand or to associate them to the item in your Excel file. You can simply use the additional images feature, making sure to define one of the images as your main and thumbnail (Set as default images).

Once all the images have been linked to your items, all that's left to do is upload the images and items to your site by clicking on Upload Items (red arrow in Items section) or Upload All.

The image output format can be configured in the DataPlug's settings via the [Tools \ Settings] menu.

You don't fill in the image fields in your Excel file and you don't map these columns during import. The simplest way is to delete all the image columns in the Excel file. The system then offers to search for product images on your hard disk. The automatic import window opens and you can designate the folder containing product images.

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If you have named the images with the corresponding product's code (Item SKU) then DataPlug will link the images to the product.
The system uses the suffix (_1, _2, …, _10) on the image names to create additional images. So if an image is named itemcode_1.jpg, the system will create the first additional imae. If the image is named itemcode_2.jpg, the system will create the 2nd additional image, and so on for the 10 possible additional images.

The suffix must start with the underscore " _ ", no other choice is possible.

Example of an Item SKU: CO001 - the corresponding image name should be CO001.jpg and, for example, the name of the 9th additional image should be CO001_9.jpg.

The application will then create the three images (main, thumbnail and zoom) and link them to the product.
A window will open for setting the way image files should be renamed. Read more about this feature in the following FAQ answer: How to automatically rename images with DataPlug ?